Our pugs - Our furry, four-legged bundles of joy. The story starts with our only non-rescue, Bruiser. Bruiser is the love of my life (well, right after my husband). We got Bruiser when he was just a pup, and he started our love affair with this wonderful, vivacious, stubborn, sassy, beautiful, loving breed. When we decided to move to Mississippi from Pennsylvania, we also decided that Bruiser needed a sister to help him adjust to his new surroundings. Enter Alabama Pug Rescue and Adoption. I had been visiting the website regularly but I was not sure that we were a suitable family for a rescue.
Finally, we mustered the strength and sent the email. The response was almost immediate and this Pam person asked that we fill out an application. Okay, we can do that. Then came the hard part, passing the "Pam test." At the time we did not understand all of the questions and concerns and inquiries. In hindsight, not only does it all make sense, it makes us proud to be involved in such a responsible rescue organization. APRA is as it bills – for the life of the dog.
I remember sending an email to Pam about a pug on the site listed as "Treasure." The response was short and to the point - Treasure has some sensitive problems and when the time comes to place her, those problems will have to be addressed. Well, we became more resolved that this troubled little pug needed us and no one was about to stand in the way of a pug in need of some Mudry love. We moved to Mississippi and several weeks later, we picked up our Treasure. We had every intention of changing Treasure's name to Gidget. Once we met her and saw her spirit, we knew why she had been named Treasure, and decided to keep it.
Treasure did have many problems, and it took some time to overcome them. But the skinny, little, food inhaling, needy pug has become a confident, full-figured, sassy, picky princess. She won most beautiful dog at a local humane society fund raiser, and she made those judges eat right out of her paw. She saunters through the room to make the boys take notice. She will pull the old bait and switch to get the other dogs to drop the toy that she really wants. She can melt your heart with her eyes and when necessary, she can quickly remind you that she is not all sugar and spice. She stakes her claim in the bed each night and watch out if anyone tries to invade her space. She is absolutely amazing.
Rescue became addictive and along came Mickey. Mickey was supposed to be a short term foster. We were a part of his transport team. Now we are his family. Mickey is a skinny, little, food inhaling, needy pug who will someday become a confident, hopefully not full-figured, sassy, picky prince. Mickey has only been with us two months or so and we have already seen a vast improvement in him. He is becoming more confident and more loving. Mickey is as crazy as the day is long. There is just no other way to describe him. He can run, jump on your lap, kiss you and be gone before you even realize what happened. But, Mickey is a darling pug who just wants to be loved. He is finding his way and finding his place in our home. I know for sure that Mickey will be just fine.
My babies (any yes, they are my children) show me every day the meaning of unconditional love. It is impossible to have a bad day with a pug in your life. When we moved to Mississippi, we moved away from our families, our friends and all of our loved ones. My pugs got me through that and continue to do so each day.
But my pugs are not alone. I have my APRA family. We share a bond and a love for this breed that cannot be described in words. I cannot tell you how many emails I have sent and received that start with "I am telling you all this because I know that you will understand." It is an understanding that goes much deeper than just being owned by the same breed of dog. My APRA family got me through some very difficult times, both personal and pug related. We truly are a family, it is just that simple.
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